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The Fair Woman
English Poetic Translation
Unmatched in our age, a beauty dwells
where empty valleys hide her lonely state.
She tells of gentle birth now cast away,
along the grass and timber left to wait.
When Guanzhong fell in ruin and defeat,
her brothers met the slaughter of the sword;
what use to speak of official rank and place,
when torn remains could not be half-restored?
The world detests a house that sinks to decay,
where all things drift like torches in the wind;
her fickle husband took a shining bride,
whose jade-like face has put the old behind.
The silk-tree blossoms know the proper hour,
mandarin ducks will never roost alone;
she sees the second wife's triumphant smile,
while no one hears the abandoned woman's moan.
Within the hills, the mountain stream runs clear;
outside the hills, the mountain stream runs foul.
Her serving maid returns from selling pearls,
as vines are pulled to patch the broken howl.
She gathers flowers but pins them not to hair;
she breaks the cypress boughs till hands are full.
The weather chills, her emerald sleeves are thin;
at dusk she leans against the bamboo cool.
where empty valleys hide her lonely state.
She tells of gentle birth now cast away,
along the grass and timber left to wait.
When Guanzhong fell in ruin and defeat,
her brothers met the slaughter of the sword;
what use to speak of official rank and place,
when torn remains could not be half-restored?
The world detests a house that sinks to decay,
where all things drift like torches in the wind;
her fickle husband took a shining bride,
whose jade-like face has put the old behind.
The silk-tree blossoms know the proper hour,
mandarin ducks will never roost alone;
she sees the second wife's triumphant smile,
while no one hears the abandoned woman's moan.
Within the hills, the mountain stream runs clear;
outside the hills, the mountain stream runs foul.
Her serving maid returns from selling pearls,
as vines are pulled to patch the broken howl.
She gathers flowers but pins them not to hair;
she breaks the cypress boughs till hands are full.
The weather chills, her emerald sleeves are thin;
at dusk she leans against the bamboo cool.
Classical Chinese & Pinyin
絕代有佳人，幽居在空谷。
自雲良家子，零落依草木。
關中昔喪敗，兄弟遭殺戮。
官高何足論，不得收骨肉。
世情惡衰歇，萬事隨轉燭。
夫壻輕薄兒，新人已如玉。
合昏尚知時，鴛鴦不獨宿。
但見新人笑，那聞舊人哭。
在山泉水清，出山泉水濁。
侍婢賣珠回，牽蘿補茅屋。
摘花不插髮，採柏動盈匊。
天寒翠袖薄，日暮倚修竹。
自雲良家子，零落依草木。
關中昔喪敗，兄弟遭殺戮。
官高何足論，不得收骨肉。
世情惡衰歇，萬事隨轉燭。
夫壻輕薄兒，新人已如玉。
合昏尚知時，鴛鴦不獨宿。
但見新人笑，那聞舊人哭。
在山泉水清，出山泉水濁。
侍婢賣珠回，牽蘿補茅屋。
摘花不插髮，採柏動盈匊。
天寒翠袖薄，日暮倚修竹。
Philological Direct Translation
Generation-peerless has fair woman, secluded dwelling in empty valley.
Self says good family daughter, fallen, dependent on grass and trees.
Guanzhong formerly defeat-loss, brothers suffered slaughter.
Office high how worth discussing, not able to gather bones and flesh.
World sentiment dislikes decline-failing, ten-thousand matters follow turning torch.
Husband is fickle youth, new person already like jade.
Albizia still knows time, mandarin ducks do not solitary roost.
Only see new person laugh, how hear old person cry?
In mountain spring water clear, out of mountain spring water turbid.
Handmaid selling pearls returns, pulling creepers to mend thatched cottage.
Plucking flowers not inserting hair, gathering cypress moves filling two hands.
Weather cold emerald sleeves thin, dusk approaching leaning against tall bamboo.
Self says good family daughter, fallen, dependent on grass and trees.
Guanzhong formerly defeat-loss, brothers suffered slaughter.
Office high how worth discussing, not able to gather bones and flesh.
World sentiment dislikes decline-failing, ten-thousand matters follow turning torch.
Husband is fickle youth, new person already like jade.
Albizia still knows time, mandarin ducks do not solitary roost.
Only see new person laugh, how hear old person cry?
In mountain spring water clear, out of mountain spring water turbid.
Handmaid selling pearls returns, pulling creepers to mend thatched cottage.
Plucking flowers not inserting hair, gathering cypress moves filling two hands.
Weather cold emerald sleeves thin, dusk approaching leaning against tall bamboo.